Great Expectations is the cautionary tale of a young man raised high above his station by a mysterious benefactor. Its
remarkable characters and compelling story about wealth and poverty, crime and social anxiety, and the bitterness of
unrequited love are as relevant today as when the novel was published in 1860/1861.
Charles Dickens's tale begins with young, orphaned Philip Pirrip, "Pip," running afoul of an escaped convict in a cemetery.
Having started his novel there, Dickens then ups the stakes and introduces his hero into the decaying household of the
wealthy, half -mad Miss Havisham, who was jilted on her wedding day many years before-and still wears her wedding
gown. Pip is brought there to play with Miss Havisham's ward, Estella, a beautiful and cruel little girl who delights in
tormenting Pip about his coarse upbringing and future as a blacksmith's apprentice. This arrangement sets the pair on a
course that will forever change their lives.
Complete and unabridged, this elegantly designed hardcover edition from Chartwell Classics features vibrant endpapers,
an introduction by Grace Moore, and a timeline of the life and times of Charles Dickens.